Growing Pains

Part of defining success is being willing to grow your business beyond where it is today. Growing pains are good! They are often signs that it is time to push past what we know and move toward that ultimate vision we are working so hard to reach. It’s a scary but exciting place to be, isn’t it? A lot is involved in being ready to grow. It requires having the appropriate structures, systems, plans, and mindsets in place to allow that to happen. Well, so often we don’t even recognize that we have outgrown these systems and structures until we feel the pinches and discomfort of that growth. Sometimes we may even perceive this “pain” as failure, when in reality, it’s a big, red flag that not only are we not failing, but it’s time to make some changes and expand what we’re doing to make room for even more growth. So let’s take a look at some signs that can clue you in that it’s time to grow. Are you ready?

Some signs that you are growing:

Higher volumes. This is a given, right? Woohoo! It’s time to celebrate! Higher volumes of orders, clients, or prices are all obvious signs we associate positively with growth.

But not all signs are so positive, are they? Do either of these look familiar?

Longer hours. In fact, you may be working more and more and more, but you still can’t keep up. You may be sleep-deprived, missing out on family time, or neglecting personal rest and recreation. Sometimes it takes becoming completely overwhelmed before finally realizing it’s time to get some help in order to create space for more growth.

Breakdowns. Are you forgetting things? Dropping the ball? Making promises you can’t keep? You may feel as though your whole world is falling apart, piece-by-piece, but if these sorts of things are happening across the scope of your business and personal life, it may a sign that you are outgrowing what currently works for you.

Growth is messy business. If your life is going along just fine and everything feels great and it’s all handled perfectly, then chances are you’re not growing. That’s the status quo. The status quo feels good. It’s “normal.” But we’re not shooting for normal here, are we, ladies? We are pursuing excellence. And excellence requires growth—breaking through the status quo, pushing past what’s currently comfortable for you, moving beyond what you know how to handle, and having the courage and confidence to go after your dreams.

I love to hear from you, so leave me a comment!

Which of these growing pains are you experiencing in your business right now?

Have you ever felt that you are failing, only to discover you have outgrown your current systems?

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Lara Galloway

As the Mom Biz Coach, I am a speaker, business coach and mentor to mom entrepreneurs and small business owners. My passion is helping entrepreneurs create and run businesses that honor their priorities and values. I'm also the co-author of Moms Mean Business: A Guide to Creating a Successful Company and a Happy Life as a Mom Entrepreneur. I am frequently interviewed for my expertise on work/life balance, starting and running a successful small business, marketing your business on Social Media, and creatively managing your time by media like Forbes, Crain’s Business, The Chicago Tribune, and More Magazine. When I'm not working, I'm wrangling my three kids with my husband, drinking good wine or microbrewed beer, and baking something with lots of calories since food is my love language. I love living in Michigan, especially when it's 80 degrees and sunny.

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